Where it all began....
Sleafordian Coaches began life on 1st June 1964 when three local men, John Chell, Don Broughton and Ted Barton, began trading as Sleaford Taxi Company, with a 1960 Ford Consul registration OEE 444, a 1959 Ford Consul WXA 964, and a 1960 Vauxhall Victor RTL 492. The business then became incorporated as a limited company a few weeks later on 10th July 1964. The business was originally based at premises on North Parade, Sleaford. In the first year the three vehicles covered a total distance of 95,180 miles.
The Company moved into the digital era when Don and his wife, Jean recruited their second son, David; who joined the business in 1996. David developed the company's first website and also introduced computerised bookings. In 1998, David left the business. Jean and Don's first son Mark and his wife, Lisa began working in the office initially on a part-time basis but their hours subsequently increased as the family business grew.
The business continued to grow which meant the premises in Westgate were becoming too small. It was decided that we would relocate to a new purpose-built depot on the East Road industrial site to the former home of Sleaford Rugby Club. Sleafordian Coaches moved into their new depot in June 2004, which is where we are today. Our new premises includes a reception area, offices, driver's rest room and a workshop, which means that we now have ample space to work on two double-decker buses simultaneously with an inspection pit on one of the bays and vehicle lifts on the other, this gives our vastly experienced engineers the space to use all of the modern up to date technology.
The company had 7 vehicles at this time and in the intervening 13 years has expanded steadily with careful and strategic management to the current 35 vehicles . We now have an operating licence for 38 vehicles and employ over 50 staff, one of whom celebrates 43 years loyal service this year and several more approaching 20 years loyal service.
From then, to now...
Today the business is run by Mark and Lisa Broughton, who were very proud in 2012 when their daughter Hannah joined the business full time, making her the third generation of the Broughton family to work for the company.
The company's future footings were further strengthened with the arrival of Mark and Lisa's son, Thomas who has recently gained his bus and coach licence, as well as looking after the workshops stock control and managing the computerised system that ensures all vehicles receive the exacting attention demanded by not only Mark and Lisa, but the maintenance guidelines as laid down by DVSA the Government body that oversees the bus and coach industry at each and every 6 weekly services.
Sleafordian opened their training department in 2013 to ensure that the delivery of the CPC to all drivers within the industry was again to standard that Mark and Lisa required. It is headed up by Jemma Familton, Jemma joined the company from High School and has excelled in all the tasks and courses she has attended on behalf of the company. Jemma's delivery of the varying courses such as Company Image, Customer Care and the Importance of Physical and Mental Ability, Tachographs, Drivers Hours and Working Time Directive to name but a few reflect the high standards that the company expect in this important subject.